Monday, March 22, 2010

House passes health care reform

Click here to find out how your Representative voted.
For the first time in history, a comprehensive health care bill has passed both Houses of Congress. The bill will give health care to 32 million Americans and save over 30,000 lives per year. And it will regulate the insurance companies so they can no longer deny care for pre-existing conditions, charge you more if you're sick, put limits on your benefits, or increase rates with impunity.

Also for the first time, Members of Congress will have the choice of the same health care plans as millions of Americans.

We struggle with health issues every day and can't afford insurance. I'm still not sure how I feel about this. I was reading a story last night that said people without insurance would be fined for not having it. How does that make sense? I'm just not sure Mary. I hope it helps and doesn't hurt you know?

Hooray for you for posting this!Funny (ironic) your last paragraph. Sadly, the headline on the Ft Myers FL paper (where we are now) made the passage sound like a tragedy. "Democrats pass..." (and they wonder why people don't read newspapers any more.)

The Salmon Rushdie quote on the sidebar opposite your post is quite appropriate.

I see pro and con with this bill. I also see it as just another step by Obama to chip away at my personal freedom. If I don't have health insurance, and don't want it, he's going to fine me??? The next step will be a fine for saying this.

Kathy, I'll be interested in hearing how it works out for you. I'm hoping it will make health ins. affordable for our small business so both dh and I could work in it for a bit. Something is coming up that we really need to concentrate on. Currently one of us needs a job with health benefits.I would like the freedom to choose a health insurance provider that doesn't pay their CEO $8 million /year (what the woman CEO who testified before congress earns). May that will be down the road.Kathy

Weird to read people complaining about loosing personal freedom, when millions of American actually don't have the freedom to get an insure at all.Even the dark blue Norwegian politician dare not touch our health care program. Oh, there truly are ways the rich can pay their way with extra insurance, but no are left dying or denied lifesaving treatment because of lack of insurance.Paying insurance is obligatory. Even people on welfare pay a small amount for insurance. No one has complained so far.

And so starts the government getting their sticky fingers more involved in my personal life. Let's hear it for more government involvement something that they already don't manage well. I can't wait. And I only hope I'm dead and gone when our national debts spirals our of control because of this. Oh well. To each his own.

I just wanted to say that I live in MA where it is the law to have health insurance. If you let it lapse for more than a month, you get fined. The great part about this is that as soon as you start a job with an employer your insurance starts on your first day-no more waiting 60 or 90 days until it's active. (As long as they provide insurance.)

I thought it would be bad, but even when I was unemployed the state gave me insurance so I didn't lapse. It's really not as bad as it sounds!

It initially sounds good, but then I think of my bro-in-law's experience whereby having a tiny growth removed form his hand was billed to the insurer for $45,000.It involved a general anasthetic and hospital stay etc..The same procedure, identical in every way, had been done in a GP's here! (a few years previously) Cost about $50.Would free health care for all be a better system? As far as I know, that's how it is in France, or is it?Seems weird (and not at all like Obama) to fine people who can't afford insurance.

It's about time ... and it's a start (as Travis pointed out). I was aware that the Representative from my area voted against it but then I've never voted for him either because he certainly has never represented MY priorities.Hugs and blessings,